The Exhibitor (Nov 1938-May 1939)

10 THE NATIONAL MIRROR World’s Fair Visitors To Be Guests of Radio Trade Invited to Make Offices Headquarters Welcome to make RKO their headquarters while attending the New York World’s Fair went to every RKO-Radio account in the United States and Canada through a letter being mailed last week by vice-president Ned E. Depinet. Matching this invitation with appropriate preparations, decorators and furnishers are now busy on the seventh floor of the RKO building arranging an attractive headquarters and lounge room for the use of exhibitors and their ladies. Here the visiting showmen will find information clerks and secretaries available to be of any possible service. A ladies powder room and other facilities will make the suite adaptable as a central meeting place before going to the Fair and after the visitors have acquired "World’s Fair feet.” It is planned to have visiting picture stars appear at the headquarters at stated hours during the day, and RKO executives will also meet the exhibitors there. Other features include a bulletin service on industry activities and the distribution of attractive souvenirs, guide books to the Fair, etc. All preparations are being handled by H. M. Richey, RKO director of exhibitor relations who will be in charge of the headquarters when opened and act as chief greeter. Commenting on the plan, Depinet said: said: "We hope it will be possible for all exhibitors to visit the World’s Fair. Indications are that thousands will attend, and RKO-Radio is happy to use this method of making their trip most enjoyable. We will be very glad to see all our customers and we will exert every effort, both through the facilities of the beautifully appointed headquarters in the heart of Radio City, and whatever other facilities we have at our command, to make their visit memorable.’* New “Gateway” Trials Arthur Willi, chief casting director for RKO, left New York last week for Columbus, Ohio, where he interviewed and auditioned candidates in the new Jesse L. Lasky Gateway to Hollywood Talent Search. Willi returned to New York following the Columbus regional, and goes to Washington for another regional gathering April 24. Other meetings to date have been set for Atlanta, April 2 8 and Rochester, New York, May 6. ERPI Re-Elects At the annual meeting of Electrical Research Products, Inc., held April 11, all directors and officers were re-elected. Big Guns Aimed at Neely Measure Schaefer and Rodgers Attack Bill Big guns of the major companies were launched at the Neely bill in Washington last week when George J. Schaefer, president, RKO, and William F. Rodgers, Metro sales chief, assumed the burden of attack on the measure. Schaefer called the bill "vicious, a far greater threat to the prosperity of the industry than all of these foreign restrictions.” Schaefer said to complete a picture before submission for sale the companies would have to add to their inventory, that no producer could undertake to sell his product in advance under the proposed bill. He claimed net income would decrease because of added selling costs. Rodgers said the trade practice code would accomplish the same result as the Neely bill, without destroying the industry structure. He asserted that exhibitors were not all interested in moral pictures. In his testimony, Schaefer asserted that the industry should not be singled out for burdensome legislation. Ralph O. Block, from the coast, also rapped the Neely bill, with Kenneth Thomson, Screen Actors Guild executives also protesting against its passage. In his testimony, Schaefer also turned the guns on Allied executives Nathan Yamins, Fall River, Massachusetts, and on Sidney Samuelson, Newton, New Jersey. Schaefer charged that Yamins now has more theatres than he did 1 1 years ago, the period representing the time that Yamins has been working for federal legislation, and that Samuelson has tried to block entry of another independent into the town in which he operates. C. C. Pettijohn, for the MPPDA, introduced Frances Flagg, Newtonville, Massachusetts, who opposed the Neely measure. Others who appeared against the bill were Colonel Jason S. Joy, 20th CenturyFox, who explained some of the difficulties of production; Dr. Howard M. LeSourd, dean, Graduate School, Boston University; Mrs. Tileson Wilder, New Haven. Later in the hearing, Ed Kuykendall attacked the Neely bill on nine different counts, rapping Allied as well, charging that Abram Myers, Allied counsel, was using the bill as a method of holding his job. Others who spoke the same day were Stanley Sumber, Cambridge, Massachusetts, who opposed the bill; Henry R. Berry, Lyle Wilson, Harry Hogan, Oscar Lam, Leo Brecher, William F. Crockett. Republic Upping Budget Convention Group Hears Addresses Highlight Eastern Sessions With an increase in the budget to 88,500,000, eastern Republic men last week held their convention in New York City, hearing addresses by company leaders and having the new product outlined to them. The advertising budget will also be increased for 1939-1940, to permit more, better space being taken in the trade, lay press. Highlights in the speeches were those of Harry LaVine, Jack Bellman, Herbert J. Yates, James R. Grainger, Walter Vincent, Al Adams. Publicity men have beeen added to the exchanges, it developed, with Steve Edwards in New York City and Gene Keenan in Boston. "The Lady’s from New Orleans” is now in the Anniversary Group instead of the De Luxe Group, it was announced, with New Orleans getting the world premiere. The windup of the convention was a beefsteak dinner at the New York Athletic Club. Columbia Has Three Sessions Columbians will have three regional meetings instead of an annual convention, it was announced last week. Eastern group meets in Atlantic City, May 8-11; mid western in Chicago, May 14-16; and the western in Los Angeles, May 20-22. Abe Montague will preside, with Jack Cohn and home office executives present at the eastern sessions. All three sessions will be presided over by Abe Montague. Sales executives present at the Atlantic City, Chicago gathering will be Rube Jackter, Louis Astor, Louis Yeinberg, Max Weisfeldt. New York division manager Nat Cohn, mid-east division manager Sam Galanty and southern division manager Sam Moscow will head the delegations in Atlantic City All of these branches will attend the meeting in Atlantic City — Albany, Boston, Buffalo, New Haven, New York, Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Cleveland, Pittsburgh, Washington, Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Memphis, Oklahoma City, New Orleans. Dividend Voted by Columbia Columbia announced last week that the board of directors, at its meeting declared a quarterly dividend of $.68 3/4 per share on the $2.75 convertible preferred stock of the company, payable May 1 5, 193 9, to stockholders of record May 1, 1939. April 19, 19)9